Two-way slide switch



1964 w..H. FLANAGAN, JR. ETAL 3,154,659

TWO-WAY sums: SWITCH Filed April 28, 1961 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Fig. 1.

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' TWO-WAY SLIDE SWITCH Filed April 28, 1961 2 Sheets Sheet 2 1 18 '1 P a W A \l l\\\\\\ I 30-l/// y 30 33 as 46 se l 1 2 Inveniom Jiffy.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,154,659 Patented Got. 27, 1964 3,154,659 'I'WQ-WAY SLIDE Sv TCH William H. Flanagan, J12, Wellesley, and Arthur S. Woodward, Naticir, Mass, assignors to United-Carr Incorporated, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 28, 1961, Ser. No. 106,252 4 Ciainis. (Ql. Zed-153) The present invention relates to circuit closers and more particularly to a sliding connector switch.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sliding connector switch having means for mechanically holding the contact when pushed in one direction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sliding connector switch having means for spring releasing the contact when the pushing force is released.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the switch assembly;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on line 22 of FIG. 1 in an off position;

FIG. 3 is a section similar to FIG. 2 in an on position;

FIG. 4 is an end View of the switch shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a section taken on line 66 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a section similar to FIG. 3 showing the switch in an on position and the spring under compression;

FIG. 8 is a section of a switch similar to that shown in FIG. 1 with a modified leaf spring; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 8.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a one-piece outer shell 10 substantially tubular in form, open at both its terminal ends and having one of its terminal ends tapered to a substantially cone shape. An inner wall 12 is formed through one side of said outer shell 19 to form a rectangular aperture 14.

The switch actuator 16 has a generally rectangular base 18 arced to closely correspond to the inner circumference of said outer shell 11) to form a trough. The said base 18 has at each of its terminal ends a bar element with a rectangular slot 24) formed therethrough as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. An actuator button 21 in the form of a rectangular hollow extension of said base 18 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 completes the basic parts of said actuator 16. A channel is formed within said hollow extension of said base 18 by a pair of spaced parallel supports 22 and a straight helical spring 24 is placed between said supports 22 as shown in FIG. 2. The said parallel supports 22 each have a triangular ramp 23 formed normal thereto in spaced opposed relationship with each other and extending a predetermined distance away from the plane of said parallel support 22.

A spring bar 26 is formed comprising a rectangular flat piece of metal or plastic and having a spring contact element 28 formed normal to said spring base 26 and at a point between the free terminal ends 30 of said spring bar 26 as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 7. The said spring bar 26 is engaged to said switch actuator 16 by sandwiching said spring contact element 28 between a terminal end of said helical spring 24 and a wall of said rectangular hollow extension of said base 18 and the free terminal ends 30 of said spring bar 26 are passed between the walls of said slots 20 formed in said base 18 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The said spring bar 26 extends beyond the area encompassed by said base 18.

The contact assembly comprises a two-piece housing having a contact base portion 32a and a contact mating portion 32. The said contact base portion 32a having a support portion 34 substantially rectangular in form and having an arcuate surface as shown in FIG. 5. A semicircular, internally threaded plug engaging portion 36 is formed integral with one end of said support portion 34,

as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6. At the opposite end of said support portion 34 from said plug engaging portion 36, a stepped portion 38 is formed integral with said support portion 34 and having a shoulder 40 formed therein, said stepped portion 38 has a semicircular portion with an aperture formed therethrough. A pair of pins 42 are attached in right angle relationship with said support portion 34 and in spaced parallel relationship with each other. A platform element 44 is formed in integral right angle relationship with said support portion 34 and in spaced parallel relationship with the plane of said pins 42. A depending element 46 is formed in integral right angle relationship with one end of said platform element 44 and said support portion 34- extending in a direction toward the plane of said pins 42. A ridged element 48 is formed in integral right angle relationship with the opposite end of said platform element 44 and in integral right angle relationship with said support portion 34. The said ridged element 48 extends from said platform element 44 in a direction away from the plane of said pins 42. The depending element 46, platform element 44 and ridged element 48 form a carrier portion. A second carrier portion 5t having similar elements is placed in opposed spaced relation on the same plane as the first carrier portion as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6. A pair of switches 52 each having a pair of pin Walls in spaced relation formed therethrough, can now be engaged to said pins 42 by passing said pins 42 between said pin walls. The said switches 52 are tthus placed in abutting relationship with each other and their switch buttons 56 extend above the plane of said platform element 44. This places the tops of said switch buttons 56 on the same plane in spaced relation to each other as shown in FIG. 5. A leaf spring 53 is placed loosely captivated between said ridge element 48 and its counterpart in said second carrier portion 50. A V-slot 6% is formed in said leaf spring on a predetermined line between the terminal ends 62 of said leaf spring 58. The said leaf spring has a length slightly less than the distance between the ridged element 48 and its counterpart in said second carrier portion 5t and each of said terminal ends 62. of said leaf spring 58 engage one of said ridge elements 43. A flat land portion S is formed adjacent each side of said V-slot 60 in spaced relation to each other and the portion of said leaf spring 58 between said fiat land portion 59 and the terminal end of said leaf spring 58 is sloped away from said land portion 59 to said terminal end as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The said contact base portion 32a and said contact mating portion 32 are placed together in the manner shown in FIG. 6 to form a contact assembly having an external configuration generally conforming to a cross section of said outer shell 10.

The assembly of applicants sliding connector switch is accomplished by placing said switch actuator 16 with said helical spring 24- and said spring bar 26 engaged therewith into said shell It? whereby said actuator button 21 protrudes between said inner wall 12 and slightly beyond the outer surface of said outer shell 10. In this latter position, the said spring bar 26 protrudes into the area encompassed by said outer shell 10 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The said contact assembly can now be slid into the area formed within the outer shell 16 with said flat land portions 59 of said leaf spring in abutting relationship with said spring bar 26 and said triangular ramps 23 fit into the V-slot 60 apex to apex. Note that the apex of the V-slot 69 is in contact with the switch opening and closing means 56.

The method disclosed by the applicant of holding the elements of the switch together after assembly is to pass a screw element through an aperture formed in the outer shell 19, through an aperture formed in the contact mating portion 32 and then screwing it into an internally threaded aperture formed in the support portion 34 as shown in FIG. 6. The head of the screw fits into a shoulder formed adjacent the aperture in the contact mat ing portion 32. A strain relief element 66 also assists in holding the contact mating portion 32 with-the support portion 34. A plug assembly 68 having an externally threaded portion may then be engaged with its wiring to the plug engaging portion 36 in the usual manner. The applicant has not set out the method of wiring the plug to the switches or to outside contacts since this may be accomplished in several different ways, all of which are old in the art.

To actuate the switch in a position which will allow the operator to remove his hand from the switch and still have the switch operating the circuit, the switch actuator 16 is pushed toward the tapered end of the outer shell. This places the triangular ramps 23 in a superposed abutting relationship with the land portion 59 of the leaf spring 53 as shown in FIG. 3, which, in turn, forces the apex of the V-slot 60 of the leaf spring 58 against the buttons of the switches 52. If it is desired to actuate the switch only so long as the hand of the operator remains in contact with the switch actuator 16, the switch actuator 16 is pressed toward the plug assembly 68. This force presses the triangle ramps 23 in superposed abutting relationship with the land portion 59 with the results set forth hereinbefore and which also serves to compress the spring 24 whereby the release of the switch actuator 16 allows the spring 24 to expand, thereby placing the triangle ramps 23 in a rest position within the V-slot 6% Note that pressure on either land portion 59 places the leaf spring 58 under tension.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 8 and 9 of the drawings, there is disclosed a switch mechanism identical in all respects to the mechanism shown in FIGS. 1 through 7 with one exception which is a triangular stop 70 one wall of which is formed as a continuation of the V-slot 60a and whose apex extends to a plane above the plane of the land portions 59a of the leaf spring 58a. The applicant has also clearly shown that the V-slot 6% need not be in the form of a V, but may be arcuate as shown in FIG. 8. The use of the triangular stop '70, which is always formed on the land portion 59a assures a positive locking action when the switch is thrown to an on position without compressing the helical spring 24.

One of the main characteristics of the applicants in- V vention is the movable relationship between the leaf spring 58, the helical spring 24 and the spring bar 26. This combination allows the switch actuator 16 when moved in one direction to remain in that direction until a positive force is applied by the hand of the individual operating the switch. This same combination also allows the switch actuator when positioned in another direction to compress the spring 24 which allows the actuator to return to a neutral position when the hand of the operator is released from the switch. Another great advantage to the applicants device is the function of the trivention, it is intended that all matters contained herein be interpreted in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A slide switch assembly comprising a tubular outer shell having an inner wall forming an aperture therethrough, a switch actuator having an integral ramp element, a contact assembly, an electric switch having switch activating means and a means of holding said contact assembly in engagement within said outer shell, said contact assembly having a leaf spring on a plane normal to the planes of said ramp element, and of said switch activating means, said leaf spring having a portion in abutting relation with said ramp element and said switch activating means, and having terminal ends, said terminal ends being fixed in position, and said switch actuator having an actuator button extending between said inner wall and beyond said outer shell and said switch actuator having a helical spring, said helical spring compressible on movement of said switch actuator in one direction and said ramps engaging a portion of said leaf spring on movement of said switch actuator whereby a portion of said leaf spring and said switch buttons are moved toward said switch a predetermined distance.

2. A slide switch assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said leaf spring has a stop formed integral therewith and extending to a point above the plane of said leaf spring.

3. A slide switch assembly comprising a tubular outer shell having an inner wall forming an aperture therethrough, a switch activator having at least two integral ramp elements, a contact assembly, at least two electric mini switches having switch activating means and a means of holding said contact assembly within said outer shell said contact assembly having a leaf spring on a plane normal to the planes of said ramp elements and of said switch activating means, said leaf spring having a V- shaped channel formed approximately midway between its terminal ends and having a fiat land portion formed adjacent each side of said V-shaped channel, said V- shaped channel having walls in abutting relationship with said ramp elements when said slide switch assembly is in the off position, and said ll-shaped channel in superposed abutting relationship with said switch activating means and said switch actuator having an actuator button extending between said inner wall and behind said outer shell and said switch actuator having a helical spring, said helical spring compressible on movement of said switch actuator in one direction only and said ramps engaging said fiat lands of said leaf spring on movement of said switch actuator whereby said leaf spring and said switch buttons are moved toward said switches a predetermined distance.

4. A switch operating means as set forth in claim 3 and having a spring bar movable in a direction parallel to the axis of said spring whereby said helical spring is compressed in relation to said slidable actuator.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,107,646 Benedict Aug. 18, 1914 2,079,252 Healy May 4, 1937 2,666,829 Burkhard et a1 J an. 19, 1954 2,760,616 Stratton et al Aug. 28, 1956 2,786,362 Immel et al. Mar. 26, 1957 2,870,273 Merchant Jan. '10, 1959 2,919,333 Scholin et a1 Dec. 29, 1959 2,968,710 Horberg Jan. 17, 1961 

1. A SLIDE SWITCH ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A TUBULAR OUTER SHELL HAVING AN INNER WALL FORMING AN APERTURE THERETHROUGH, A SWITCH ACTUATOR HAVING AN INTEGRAL RAMP ELEMENT, A CONTACT ASSEMBLY, AN ELECTRIC SWITCH HAVING SWITCH ACTIVATING MEANS AND A MEANS OF HOLDING SAID CONTACT ASSEMBLY IN ENGAGEMENT WITHIN SAID OUTER SHELL, SAID CONTACT ASSEMBLY HAVING A LEAF SPRING ON A PLANE NORMAL TO THE PLANES OF SAID RAMP ELEMENT, AND OF SAID SWITCH ACTIVATING MEANS, SAID LEAF SPRING HAVING A PORTION IN ABUTTING RELATION WITH SAID RAMP ELEMENT AND SAID SWITCH ACTIVATING MEANS, AND HAVING TERMINAL ENDS, SAID TERMINAL ENDS BEING FIXED IN POSITION, AND SAID SWITCH ACTUATOR HAVING AN ACTUATOR BUTTON EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID INNER WALL AND BEYOND SAID OUTER SHELL AND SAID SWITCH ACTUATOR HAVING A HELICAL SPRING, SAID HELICAL SPRING COMPRESSIBLE ON MOVEMENT OF SAID SWITCH ACTUATOR IN ONE DIRECTION AND SAID RAMPS ENGAGING A PORTION OF SAID LEAF SPRING ON MOVEMENT OF SAID SWITCH ACTUATOR WHEREBY A PORTION OF SAID LEAF SPRING AND SAID SWITCH BUTTONS ARE MOVED TOWARD SAID SWITCH A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE. 